RED DEER — Turkey farmers want Canadians to know the birds are not just for Christmas. Think Turkey is a new five-year campaign to boost lagging sales. Per capita consumption of turkey is dropping to about 4.2 kilograms per person, a worrisome trend for the sector, said Darren Ference, president of Turkey Farmers of Canada. […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Sask. bull wins Calgary grand champ
The Ramsays’ win is the first time a Sask. bull has been named grand champion at the 119-year-old Calgary Bull Sale
For the first time ever, a Saskatchewan bull was named grand champion at the Calgary Bull Sale held March 7. Consigned by Cal and Marilyn Ramsay of Cutknife, Sask., the bull sold for $20,500 to XTC Ranches and Wasko Enterprises of Eastend, Sask. The 2017 bull named Carlrams A 81Y Royal Lad 138E was also […] Read more
U.S. meat company invests in alternative protein products
HOUSTON, Texas — Major meat companies including Tyson Foods are investing in alternative protein production. Plant-based proteins and meats cultured from animal cells in a laboratory are gaining more attention and Tyson spokesperson Justin Ransom argued these products may help feed a swelling global population expected to hit nine billion by 2050. “Unless you have […] Read more
Larger carcasses ring alarm for beef industry
Some in the sector argue the increasing size of beef animals results in oversized steaks that consumers may not want
HOUSTON, Texas — The growing size of beef carcasses is a conundrum. Producers get paid by the pound and there is little penalty for heavier carcasses that end up as larger cuts of beef that consumers may reject. The 2016 U.S. beef quality audit examined 3.7 million carcasses and reported 39 percent were more than […] Read moreRactopamine ban prompts further research
The ban, particularly in China, prompts researchers to look for proof that the product is safe for use in food animals
HOUSTON, Texas — There is considerable interest in doing business with China, but there are barriers that some meat traders find difficult to hurdle. The Chinese do not allow the use of growth promoting hormones and beta agonists, so research is under way to prove they are safe for use in food animals. “When you […] Read moreFarmers urged to show good soil practices
Cereals Canada president says sector might want to consider codes of practice similar to those in the livestock industry
Farmers must show they are more than tillers of the land and are responsible caretakers preserving soil health for future generations, said the president of Cereals Canada. “We need to be able to actively demonstrate that we have been taking action and we need to actively demonstrate the benefits of our sustainable practices. If we […] Read more
Cattle data shows little movement in Canada
Statistics Canada reports 11.5 million cattle, down 1.1 percent from last year; fewer breeding stock were retained
Canadian livestock numbers remain in a holding pattern with little or no growth. Statistics Canada reported 11.5 million cattle, down 1.1 percent from last year. Less breeding stock was retained with more heifers and cows going for slaughter. “We slaughtered and exported a lot of cows, so we knew we were going to be down,” […] Read more
Genomic selection finds its stride
Research is ongoing to find new traits and figure out genetic correlations to make the best breeding choice
Picking the best herd sire or selecting replacement heifers is getting easier for producers using genomically enhanced expected progeny differences. The predictions of valuable traits like carcass merit, longevity and calving ease may not be 100 percent accurate but new computing power is making the job easier. DNA is the basis of inheritance and genes […] Read more
Research lauded for beef improvements
Research investments to improve cattle production have made the industry more sustainable and environmentally friendly. “We know that our investment in research that have focused on productivity and efficiency at the farm level has contributed to lower emissions,” said Brenna Grant, research lead at Canfax. Comparing 1981 to 2011, more has been done with less. […] Read more
Forest fires hurt prairie water flow and quality
In an average year, Alberta combats about 1,500 wildfires but most are small and cause few problems to the landscape. However three-tenths of one percent of Alberta wildfires account for 98 percent of the total area burned and cause considerable and lasting damage to watersheds. The nature of these mega fires seemed to change around […] Read more
